In reading your recent news article on concerns regarding disposal of hypodermic needles, an obvious solution came to mind. When the Bottle Bill was passed, it required those who sold beverages in containers that were covered by the bill, to accept the returned bottles and cans. Also those who sell oil must, by law, accept the oil that was replaced by the oil they sold. Doesn't it make sense to require those who sell hypodermic needles to also have an approved receptacle in their store for the return of used hypodermic needles? Doctors and hospitals have medical waste collected.

This could be easily done with or without a deposit and may require an amendment to the law. Hopefully now, that needles can be purchased legally and inexpensively, we can save the taxpayers money by doing away with the needle exchange program.

Donald J. Flannery

Wilbraham

[end]